Digital innovation and strong corporate governance have collided. 

Boardrooms  are tasked with re-thinking the board member profile and committee  structure in light of innovation and emerging transitional risks. 

I've spent the better part of  four years immersed in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cloud and  digital disruption initiatives. When I say immersed, I truly mean  immersed. I haven't just attended conferences and read books. I've rolled up my sleeves and gotten involved! 

With  seven years of for-profit public and private company board experience; Two successful business exits commanding premiums to market as a CEO and as Partner and Board Director; Four years of direct involvement in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology integration initiatives; Twenty years of leadership experience as CEO and other senior level positions; leading business transformation with direct P&L oversight; I have never seen change occur as fast as change is occurring today. 

This time in my life has forever changed how I think and how I problem solve for a pain point.

I understand these new technologies but I also appreciate the challenges  faced by management with regard to legacy systems and processes. Being  up to date and educated on these initiatives allow for thought provoking  and robust discussions in the boardroom and with management.

Scroll down to find my upcoming speaking engagements and enjoy my thoughts on these topics!

Board Experience

Director, Audit, Risk, Nom & Gov Committees Member, Recology;

Director, Audit Committee Member, OFG Bancorp (Symbol:   OFG);

Director, Compensation Committee Chair and Nom & Gov   Committee Member, Tanimura & Antle;

Director, NACD NorCal Chapter & Pacific Coast Banking   School, WA.;

Former Director, Audit Committee Chair, Compensation   Committee Member, SF Holdings;

Former Director, Audit and Nominating & Governance   Committee Member, FIG Partners LLC;

Former Inside Director, President & CEO, Mechanics   Bank (Symbol: MCHB)

Christa Steele is an experienced CEO and Director serving as a board member of public, private, ESOP and family-owned B2B and B2C companies across varying industry verticals. Board service has included six public and private company boards - including serving as Chair of Audit and Compensation committees to the financial services, insurance, wealth management, investment banking, transportation, equipment leasing, waste collection, food and agricultural industries operating in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands.

Partner Background and CEO Operating Background

Until recently, Steele was a partner and board member of FIG Partners, a highly successful investment bank focused on M&A, Capital Markets, Fixed Income Asset Management, and IPO’s with ten locations across the United States. In April 2019, FIG Partners was acquired by Janney Montgomery Scott. 

Prior, Steele spent two decades in the financial services industry serving retail, wealth management and commercial clientele. Most notably, during her tenure, she became the youngest CEO in the U.S. to lead a $3.5 Billion asset size bank located in the Bay Area of CA. As former CEO of a company with direct P&L oversight of a company with $500 million in market cap, Steele led a significant financial turnaround in a highly regulated industry that included: the onset of a complete technology overhaul to bring 110-year company current through streamlined operations, reducing its risk profile, adding new and divesting from business lines, and enhancing client engagement; resulting in core earnings 43% in a single calendar year, doubled the banks’ value in less than two years, and successfully led its sale for a premium in 2015. 

Nationally Recognized Speaker & Thought Leader

Steele is an authority figure on blockchain, artificial intelligence, the IoT, and digital disruption to the boardroom. She is nationally recognized as a speaker and thought leader by the National Association of Corporate Directors, Women Corporate Directors, Directors Forum, Institute of Internal Auditors and is often interviewed by news outlets such as WSJ and Financial Times. A sample of recent speaking engagements include Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Financial Times Agenda Webcast, The WSJ Artificial Intelligence Pro Conference, and NACD Artificial Intelligence and NACD Blockchain Webinar. 

Expertise & Recognition

Seven years of for-profit public and private company board experience; Two successful business exits commanding premiums to market as a CEO and as Partner and Board Director; Four years of direct involvement in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology integration initiatives; Twenty years of leadership experience as CEO and other senior level positions; leading business transformation with direct P&L oversight.

Specific areas of expertise include but not limited to: emerging technologies, software integration, risk, audit and compliance oversight, executive compensation, shareholder and institutional investor engagement, regulatory, corporate strategy, leadership succession, top line growth, expansion and retraction, M&A, expense control, turnaround.

Steele was recognized by Private Company Director Magazine in October 2019 as a North America 2019 "Director to Watch" and received previous recognition by the San Francisco Business Times as "Most Influential Leader in Bay Area Business" and by Crowe Horwath for driving significant financial performance improvement. 

Steele qualifies as a financial expert, is an adjunct faculty member of the National Association of Corporate Directors Board Advisory Services Group and Board Leadership Fellow, holds an MBA from University of Southern CA (USC) and an undergraduate degree from California State University Sacramento (CSUS).